Košice is preparing for another chapter in the story of the oldest marathon in Europe.

As it enters 2026, the Košice Peace Marathon is encouraged by strong runner interest, robust international participation, and its confirmed position among the world’s most significant marathon events.

Data from recent years confirm not only a high sporting standard, but also the event’s significant social contribution to the city and the country as a whole. The starting gun will sound on Sunday, October 4.

A growing appetite for running

The appetite for running—this time referring to the Slovak one—appears unstoppable. The boom that was expected to peak in Košice in 2023 and 2024 has clearly not faded. The good news is that it is not concentrated solely in Košice; it is also reflected in participation numbers across all major running events in the country.

A recent survey confirmed that, when adjusted for population size, the participation of Slovak runners in competitive races is comparable to—or even higher than—that in many other countries.

Košice itself is so engaged that local runners and residents now clearly form the city’s largest sporting community. In long-term preparation for one of the autumn marathon disciplines, they completed nearly 500,000 training sessions within the city in 2025 alone, and their highly visible activity is gradually inspiring others to join.

Equally impressive are the overall numbers of registered runners at the Košice Peace Marathon. Over the past three years, their numbers—in a city of approximately 230,000 inhabitants—have reached around 18,000 runners each year, representing more than 65 countries from around the world.

Still among the best

Despite the seemingly unstoppable global expansion of marathon events—with the steepest growth curve in Asia—Slovakia, thanks precisely to Košice, has managed to maintain its place on the map of competitively relevant countries. Twelfth place in the European ranking based on World Athletics performance scores once again represents a strong result. This is all the more significant when we consider that Europe accounts for more than half of the positions in the world’s top twenty marathon events. Asia holds six, the Americas two, and Australia one.

In terms of sporting performance, the Košice Marathon continues to build on past eras in which Olympic champions dominated the race and winning times were repeatedly among the very best in the world. It is understandable that, amid growing global competition, this has become increasingly difficult. Nevertheless, the ambition for 2026 remains to challenge the current course records, which today stand at 2:06:47 and 2:21:08 respectively.

A wide range of activities

For many years now, it has been clear that the Košice Marathon is not only a sporting event, nor merely a weekend festival of movement and entertainment. It is truly a year-round palette of activities that fulfills many important goals for participants, fans, and partners alike.

The same will hold true in 2026. Under the Košice Marathon Events umbrella, a total of seven running events are being prepared, culminating on Sunday, October 4. In addition, there will once again be several charitable projects, year-round training programs, as well as ongoing work on expanding the permanent museum exhibition known as MarathonPoint.

Alongside sporting matters, early-year attention is also focused on improving several organizational processes. A significant phase of ongoing digitalization is already evident in the expansion of registration system functionalities, the development of a new mobile application, and the further use of artificial intelligence through information and chat services.

There is no doubt that the Košice Peace Marathon 2026 will once again bring many inspirations and stories. One of them is especially anticipated and is connected with the name Peter Polák. This 77-year-old runner, with a former personal best of 2:21:26, has remained unwaveringly loyal to the marathon in his hometown.

On Sunday, October 4, he will attempt to complete the course for the 50th time.

Košice Marathon Milestones

Get to know some interesting facts about Europe’s oldest marathon in a quick overview:

• The first race was held on October 28, 1924.
• Since 1925, the marathon has been organized with international participation.
• Runners from all continents have competed in Košice.
• Olympic champions Abebe Bikila, Juan Carlos Zabala, Waldemar Cierpinski, and Mamo Wolde have been among the biggest stars of the race.
• The legendary Ron Hill competed in Košice in 1974 and later returned as an honored guest in 2005 and 2014.
• The most famous artefact of the race is the bronze statue of a marathon runner unveiled in Košice in 1960; the names of all winners are immortalized on the pylons beneath it.
• In 1997, Košice hosted the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.
• In 2020, Sebastian Coe awarded the marathon the World Athletics Heritage Plaque.
• In the most recent edition, in 2025, organizers accepted more than 18,000 registrations from runners representing 67 countries.
• The current course records are 2:06:47 and 2:21:08.
• Thanks to the fast and flat circuit, many runners achieve excellent results in Košice every year.

Branislav Koniar
Race Director
Košice Peace Marathon – Europe’s oldest – since 1924

https://www.kosicemarathon.com/

The Košice Peace Marathon returns to Paris after 100 years

 

THE JUBILEE MARATHON IS SOLD OUT – Kosice Marathon on October 5 and 6, 2024

100 years KOSICE Marathon: STORIES OF NINE DECADES: WHAT HAPPENED AT THE MARATHON IN KOSICE 90 YEARS AGO

Kosice Marathon – FIVE THOUSAND REGISTRATIONS – Košice Peace Marathon – 2.10.2022